Car construction.



R. V. SAGE.

GAR. CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1913.

1,110,236. j I Patented Sept.8,1914.

UNITED STA'JEES PArENT onnron BALPH V. SAGE, OF WESTMON'I. BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 1'0 CAMBRIA STEEL COMPANY, CQBPOBA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CAB CONSTRUCTION.

Speciflcation of Letters Ratent. Application fllednine 20, 1913. Serial no. 774,858. I

Patented'Sept. s, 1914.

' declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilied in the art to which it' a pertains to make and use the same.

It y present invention comprises certain improvements in metallic railway cars, and

more especially to gondola, or other cars which havea plurality of drop doors located between the cross bearers of the floor framing and form the floor of the car to a considerable extent when the said doors are closed.

Qne of the objects of my invention is to so construct the cross'bearersnr transoms,

and body bolsters withtheir outer ends beveled or inclined-downwardly so asto pro vide a convenient and accessible space and mounting for the dooroperating shaftwhich extends longitudinally of theside of the car,

' near its outer lower edge.

' 'linother object of my invention is the construction and arrangement for mount ingthe operating shaft on journal bearings which are supported on reinforcing angular bracketfstrips, which connect the lower end of each side stake with the outer end of the cross bearer, the journal bearing being substantially independent of the cross he'ai'erso that the shaft will he sustained directliy' y the plate girder side of the car. i' 1hrnither- -:object of-my invention consists in forming-the locking latches for the .doors with upwardiy. extendin noses or hooked ends adapted to rest ont e operating shaft when'the-doors are closed and thereby lock or sustain them in that position.

A flirt-her object of the present invention is to provide certain otherimprovements 1n car construction which will be hereinafter described.

Havihg thus given a general description of myinvention, I will' now, in order to make the matter more clear, refer to' the accompanying one sheet of'drawings form- 7 ingpart of this'specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation of a portion of agondola car illustrating my invention, taken on the line I---I strip their closed nosition, the nose or hooked end of Fig. 2 showing the doors of the car in of a latch seated on the door operatingshaft,

whereby the doors arelocked in" that positron, a cross bearer of channel section and body bolster of open box shape,.both having beveled or downwardly inclined outer ends attac'hed'to the lower ends of the car'stakes. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the car corresponding to that shownin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation of the side corner of a car taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing more clearlythe manner in which the end of the cross bearer is inclined and attached to the lower end of the car stake and-the manner of mounting 'the journal bearing for the car door operating shaft. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation taken on the same line and of the same part of the car as that shown in Fig. 3 but showing a pressed metal cross bearer of open box form, instead ofa rolled channel shape; and Fig. 5 is a vertical trans verse sectional elevation similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing the end of a channel or- I-beam shape of a cross bearer inclined or. bent downwardly.

Referring now to the numbers of; reference on the drawings: 1 indicates the center sills of the car which may be of any desired construction, but shown as rolled channels disposed back to back with their webs verti cal, the flanges thereof extending horizontally outwardly toward the sides of the car and spaced apart by means of flanges shal' low box-shaped members 2 and 3, which are located between the center sills at the points of connection of the inner ends of the cross to the top anges of the center sills 1 and to the top flanges of the box-shaped members 2 and 3 and serves as the central floor of the car.

5 indicates the bolsters of the car which are shown as open box-shaped members of trapezoidal outline, but which may be of any well known construction.

The cross bearers 6 are spaced at suitable distances apart between the bolsters, havingtheir inner ends attached to the center sills 1 in any approved manner and extending outwardly therefrom to'the sides of the car and secured to the lower end of the car stakes 7. The outer ends of these cross bearers 6 are bent downwardly or beveled on their upper surfaces as at 8. This may be done by cutting away an angular portion as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by constructing the cross bearer of pressed metal with an.

upper inclined outer end as illustrated Fig. 4, or by bending downwardly the entire end of the cross bearer, as shown in Fig. 5,

the idea being to provide a space for the door operating shaft, latches, journals, etc., which is readily accessible and whereby the shaft may bemounted or demounted easily when desired.

. The outer ends of the cross bearers are riveted directly to the lower ends of the car stakes 7 and are further reinforced and connected together by means of a bent angular bracket member 9, thevertical'fiange' pending application, filed October 3rd, 1912, 1

Serial Number 723,665, and comprises. a pair of latch-bars 12 for each door, which are slotted as at 13, withinwhich the tubular rollers 14 are mounted and retained in place between the angular brackets 27 by means of bolts lfi which form the axles for the rollers 14.

The forward end of each latch-bar 12 extends upwardly and is formed into a short projecting nose or hook 16 and Enormally rests, and. is-held, on the door operating shaft 11 when the door is="closed, its upper forward'face being beveled as at 17, so' that it will pass by the; operating shaft when the door is being closed. A chain 18 has one end-attached to the underside of the latch bar 12 by means of an eye-bolt-19 and its opposite end is'secured to the door operating shaft 11 by a bolt 20,- which chain is wound or unwound on said shaft in closing. or opening the door.

The car door is hinged at 21 to the center sills 'of the car, its forward edge being adapted to close against the lower flange .Of a corner shedding member 22 of troughshape, which also forms the bottom chord of the plate girder side 23 of the car, while the sides of the door close against the projecting edges of-the transverse floor strips or cover plates 24 which are attached to the top flange of each cross bearer and bolster which strips serve 'as that portion of the Fig.5 and may also have 'a reinforcing strip or angle 28 on its lower edge.

" When it is desired to open the doors of ,thecar to dump the lading, or for any other purpose, a wrench is applied to the squared outer 'end of the operating shaft (not shown) and the shaft is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, and in so doing, the projecting lug 25, which is attached to the operating shaft, comes into contact. with the forward projecting nose or hook 16 and pushes the latch backward on its roller bearings beyond the circumference of the operating shaft and unlatches the door, and the continuation of said movement further unwinds the chain from the shaft. The door is thereby allowed to swing downwardly into a substantially vertical or inclined position, as desired. In closing the door the shaft is rotated in the reverse direction, the chain is wound upon the shaft and when the forward upper beveled surface 17 of the nose comes into contact with the operating shaft, it will slide on it and be seated on the shaft in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The construction of the lower portion of the side of the car, including the inwardly inclined corner shedding member 22, which is provided with thickened edge flanges arranged obliquely to the web portion, connected to thelower edge of the web 23 of the plate girder car side, to the cross bearer or transoms and to the body bolsters in connection with the downwardly extending stakes 7 which are secured to the extreme ends of the cross bearers and body' bolsters, all form an exceedingly strong and efficient lateral brace to tie the sides and the bottom of the car together, while the member 22 also serves as the bottom flange of the plate girder side; the corner shedding member 22 being arranged to slope downwardly and in- "wardly at the lower side corner of the car,

thus forms a sloping surface which is well adapted to discharge the lading to the door opening and will prevent any enlodgment of the same in what would otherwise be the rentrant angle of the car body. Further floor of the car between the car doors. The I than this, the corner construction provides a, convenient means, space and accessible location in which to arrange the door operating shaft, 1ts bearings, mountmgs and ap purtenances, without detracting from the carrying capacity of the car, while adding to the strength of the structure as previously explained.

It will be understood that the plate girder side of the car is primarily supported by the .ends of the bolsters, and through them, transmits the load to the trucks.

While I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction specified, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a car of the character described, a plate girder side, a plurality of upright stakes extending downwardly below the lower edge of the web of said side, a plurality of cross transoms and bolsters extending transversely of the car attached to the lower ends of the stakes aforesaid, the upper portions of the outer ends of said transome being downwardly inclined, a trough shaped bottom chord member arranged obliquely and secured to the lower portion of the web of the plate girder side and t0 the cross bearers and transoms aforesaid and extending longitudinally of the said car, whereby the car is braced anda space. provided for the door operating shaft and mountings.

2-. In a car of the character described, provided with center sills and plate girder sides, a plurality oftransoms and bolsters extending transversely of the cars and secured by their inner ends to the center sills,

the upper portions of the outer ends of the:

said transoms and bolsters being downwardly inclined, a plurality of upright stakes secured to the plategirder sides 5.8K- tending downwardly below the lower edge of the web of the same andattachedto the outer extremities of the cross transoms and bolsters aforesaid, a trough shaped shedding member secured by one edge to the plate girder side, inclined inwardly and downwardly therefrom, and secured to the transoms and bolsters and forming the bottom chor'd member for tho'plate girder side, and a door operating shaft mounting in the opening thereby provided.

3. In a car of the character described, plate girder sides provided with a plurality of stakes attached thereto, with their lower ends depending therefrom, cross bearers and transoms extending transversely of the car, the extremities of the same being attached to the lower ends of the stake, a downwardly and inwardly sloping trough-shaped shedding member extending longitudinally of the car, and secured to the lower part of the plate girder side and to the cross bearers and transoms aforesaid and for1n.-.

ends of each of. the stakes and to the outer end of each of the cross bearers and transome, bearings secured to said brackets and a longitudinally extending operating shaft mounted in said bearings.

ers and transoms and projecting-Tlaterally therefrom, sw nging doors hinged .to the center sill, a door operating shaft mounted in the bearings aforesaid and provided with operating locking mechanism adapted to close and open the doors.

1 5. In a car of the character described provided with plate girder sides, a plurality of cross bearers and transoms extending transversely of the floor framing, said plate girder havinga bottom chord composed of a trough-shaped member with inclined flanges, one of which is secured to the lower edge of the plate girder, the other flange being secured to the cross bearers and transoms, thereby providing a shedding surface and a space for the door operating shaft and mountings;

6. Iii-a car of the character described, a plate girderside, a plurality of cross bearers and transoms extending transversely of the floor framing, a corresponding plurality of stakes attached to said plate girder side and to the extremities of the cross bearers and transoms, an inclined shedding bottom f chord member for the plate girder side of trouglrshape having a central web portion with inclined thicker edges, one of which issecured. to the plate girder 'side and the other to said crossbearers and transoms, thereby forming a space for the door operating shaft and mountings.

7. In a car of the character described, a plate girder side, a bottom chord member therefor comprising a trough section ;hav ing a central web portion with inclined thicker flanged edges, secured by one of the'said edges to the plate girder side, theother edge being attached to the floor framing contiguous to the door opening and also forming the shedding plate adapted to dis- 1 charge the lading through the door open-.

ings. I

8. In a car of the character described,

provided with a plurality of drop doors hinged longitudinally near the center framing thereof, an operating shaft mounted in the space below the outer lateral edges .of

the car floor, a latch slidably mounted on tubular bearin s on' the outer edges of each door and provided with an upwardly projecting hooked nose adapted to engage and can rest upon the operating shaft above the body of the latch, and connections between said shaft and said latch 9.1a a car of the character described, a

-plurality of drop doors hinged longitudinally of the floor vthereof, a plurality of cross bearers and transoms extending transversely of the car, floor strips secured on and extending over the horizontal upper. surfaces of: the said cross bearers and transoms, said cross bearers and transoms each having adownwardly inclined outer end, a plate girder side provided with a corresponding plurality of side stakes projecting below the lower edge of the same and securedto the outer extremities of the cross bearers and transoms aforesaid, an inclined shedding member attached to the lower portion of the plate girder'side and to the cross bearers and'transoms aforesaid and forming the bottom chord for the plate girder side, an operating shaft mounted below, said shedding member, and means cooperating with said shaft. for operating and locking the said doors. a

10. Ina car of the character described, a plate girder-side, a plurality of stakes secured thereto, projecting below the lower edgethereof, a plurality of cross bearers and transoms extending transversely of the car and having the outer ends of their upper surfacesdownwardly inclined and their extremities secured to the lower ends of the stakes aforesaid, an angular bracket secured to and connecting the lower ends of said stakes and the outer ends of said cross bearers and transozns, and shaft bearings mounted on said brackets.

11. In a car of the character descrlbed, a

plate girder side, a plurality of cross upon said brackets, an operating shaft extending longitudinally of the car and mounted in the bearings aforesaid, a plurality of doors hinged to the longitudinal center framin of the car, latches on the outer edges 0 the said doors adapted to slidably move on tubular hearings on the same, each latch being provided with an upwardly extending hooked end projecting above the body of the latch, and flexible connections between said shaft and said latches. In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH V. SAGE. Witnesses:

ELMER S AVEY, R. A. Bnnns. 

